Tag Archives: titan publishing

Breaking: Diamond and Trustee Morgan W. Fisher, Sparkle Pop, and 13 more Publishers Reach a Settlement

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Graphic text that reads 'NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL A SETTLEMENT' against a colorful, abstract background.

Another big motion in Diamond’s chapter 7 drama has been filed today as a compromise has been reached between Diamond and its Trustee Morgan W. Fisher, Sparkle Pop, and 13 more publishers. This new settlement impacts the “Palik Consignment Group” which includes Aspen, Black Mask Studios, DSTLRY, Heavy Metal International, Magnetic Press, Massive Publishing, Oni-Lion Forge Publishing, Panini UK, Alien Books, Graphic Mundi, Titan Publishing Group, Vault Comics, and Dark Horse Comics.

The publishers, Diamond, and Sparkle Pop have been a fight regarding consigned goods. The publishers feel the goods are theirs, Diamond claims it has a right to them and wants to sell it to pay back debts, and it’s currently stored by Sparkle Pop (which purchased some of Diamond’s assets). Sparkle Pop has also been caught selling the consigned goods.

In August, Diamond and its Trustee reached a settlement with a different group of publishers, a total of 15. That settlement didn’t include Sparkle Pop and is currently being litigated further.

The two deals are very different. While the initial deal involved an audit and publishers paying for the packing and shipping, this deal is a similar concept but structured very differently.

It would end fights over relief between these publishers, Diamond, and Sparkle Pop, effectively closing the long-running battle over consigned goods.

The deal includes:

  • The Palik Consignment Group are granted Chapter 11 administrative expenses;
  • Money in Court Registry Escrow will be released to the Trustee;
  • When the settlement agreement with the Ad Hoc Consignment Group (the other publishers) is approved, the Trustee will disburse $308,890 to Sparkle Pop with remaining funds going to the Trustee;
  • The SP Escrow will be released to Sparkle Pop. That amount is $105,856;
  • The Distribution Agreements of the Palik Consignment Group are officially rejected;
  • Adversary Proceedings will be dismissed;
  • The Trustee will file a notice that the Consigned Inventory is abandoned and belongs to the Palik Consignment Group;
  • Sparkle Pop will get inventory of the default judgements including Digital Manga, Net Comics, Valiant, and the inventory covered in the Image Comics settlement.

Sparkle Pop will get $787,380 total. They are also part of Tariff Refund Rights Sharing and that as well as the escrow amount will satisfy Sparkle Pop’s claims against the Trustee, Diamond, and the Palik Consignment Group. Sparkle Pop has been fighting to get paid for warehouse storage as well as costs associated with selling consigned goods.

Tariff Refunds were mentioned, I believe for the first time, in this filing. They’ll be split 50/50 between Sparkle Pop and the Trustee minus whatever costs to get the refund.

The mechanism for publishers to get their product back is interesting. There are two options listed:

  • Pik&Pak Option 1: Sparkle Pop picks 4% of the value of remaining wholesale Consigned Inventory in lieu of payment; the remaining 96% is picked, packed, palletized, and made available without additional charge;
  • Pik&Pak Option 2: Each member pays 2% of wholesale value directly to Sparkle Pop; all remaining inventory is picked, packed, palletized, and made available. Risk of loss transfers upon loading at dock or tender to carrier.

Each Palik Consignment Group Member shall have thirty days after notice to remove its inventory from the Warehouse with failure to timely remove it being deemed abandonment. Members can also request that Sparkle Pop destroys the inventory at no additional cost.

This is a major step into wrapping up Diamond’s chapter 7 drama which began in January 2025. While there’s still a long way to go this is potentially a key compromise to wrapping things up.

You can read all of the filings below:

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Titan Publishing Group announces the passing of Katharine Trowbridge at the age of 68

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© Paul Gill. Used with permission
© Paul Gill. Used with permission

Katharine Trowbridge (known professionally as Katharine T. Carroll), US Publicity Director for Titan Publishing Group, died Sunday, June 28. She was 68.

Trowbridge, who worked with Titan Publishing Group across Titan Books, Titan Comics, and Hard Case Crime for nearly two decades, was a force of nature at the helm of the company’s publicity in the US, bringing a career of media expertise to her work across a changing landscape, while championing authors with support and guidance. She was dearly beloved by her colleagues within Titan and around the world.

Trowbridge began her publicity career with Time Inc. in 1980, spending a decade working across campaigns with Time, Life, People, Entertainment Weekly and more, before launching her own publicity consultation company – KTCommunications – in 1990, where she worked with a range of magazines, authors, and publishing companies.

She began working with Titan Publishing as the US Publicity Director in 2008 and was instrumental to the company’s significant growth and presence throughout the US over the last 18 years, working closely with the Hard Case Crime imprint after it was acquired in 2011. She was the native New Yorker heart of Titan Entertainment’s New York Comic Con booth over the years and brought her warm, lively personality to interactions with countless fans and readers.

In recent years, Trowbridge spearheaded new investments in touring authors around the US and was fundamental in connecting US journalists and booksellers with key Titan successes such as Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis – Titan’s first-ever US original fiction title to hit the New York Times bestseller list.

We are devastated by the loss of Katharine. She had the warmest of personalities and cared deeply for all her authors as well as her colleagues on both sides of the Atlantic. She glowed whenever she discussed any aspect of publishing and had a phenomenal knowledge of all facets of publishing. Her contribution to Titan enabled us to grow far faster in the US than we ever thought possible. We will miss her dearly.

-Titan Entertainment Group co-owners Nick Landau and Vivian Cheung

Katharine was an absolute delight. A consummate professional, she coupled charm and grace with an infectious sense of humour. She will be missed terribly.

-Titan Books Editorial Director Laura Price

Trowbridge is survived by her three children, Sarah, Emily, and James Carroll; her two grandchildren, Madelyn and Rowan Moore; her mother, Marty Trowbridge; and her two siblings, Stephen and Mary Trowbridge.

Our thoughts go out to her family, friends, and coworkers.

More Last Minute Filings in Diamond’s Chapter 11 Case Before Monday’s Hearing including Facts and Economic Interest

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Monday is a big day in Diamond’s Chapter 11 case and will feature discussion of multiple motions that have yet to be decided. One of the bigger motions is Diamond’s motion to approve procedures for sale or other disposition of consigned inventory. In short, Diamond wants to sell inventory from publishers to help pay back it’s loan from the bank. There’s dispute as to who owns that property.

Last minute filings are coming in before the hearing begins.

A group of publishers that includes Aspen, Black Mask Studios, DSTLRY, Dynamic Forces/Dynamite, Heavy Metal Entertainment, Magnetic Press, Massive Publishing, Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group, Panini UK, Punk Bot Comic Books/Alien Books, The Penn State University/Graphic Mundi, Titan Publishing, Vault Comics, and Dark Horse have submitted a document featuring the “Disclosable Economic Interest in Case.”

What each publisher has in value is listed out. The grand total is over $1.241 million worth of inventory with the most from Titan Publishing with $413,898.17 and least is Heavy Metal Entertainment’s $363.37.

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Also, a document that features agreed upon “facts and authenticity of exhibits” between JPMorgan Chase Bank and the Consignment Group has also been released.

It has information like agreements between Diamond and the Publishers and more interesting bits.

Here’s some of the highlights:

  1. “the Consignors and not the Debtors were to pay all personal property taxes on the consigned stock that the Consignors delivered to the Debtors; and that the Debtors sent to the Consignors, on several different occasions, correspondence indicating that the Consignors were responsible for paying personal property taxes to the State of Mississippi and/or DeSoto County, Mississippi, because the Consignors owned the stock delivered to the Debtors.”
  2. “JPM stipulates and agrees that it was aware of the fact that the Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc., debtor (“Distributor”) dealt in consigned goods; and that it had actual knowledge of the Distributor’s participation in consignment transactions during the period from its initial advance of funds to the Debtors through the present.”
  3. The loan documents between JPMorgan and Diamond are all authentic.

The first two points might be important in that the first one indicates it was the publishers who paid taxes on the product, not Diamond, strengthening proof of their ownership. The second point is important in that it shows JPMorgan was aware that Diamond sold consigned goods when it made a loan, a point of contention at various stages.

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Preview: Conan the Barbarian: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol. 6

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Conan the Barbarian: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol. 6

Author: Michael Fleisher and Larry Yakata
Artist: John Buscema
HC, 672 pages, FC, $125.00
On sale August 5, 2025

The greatest hero in sword-and-sorcery history!

This epic omnibus chronicles the ongoing adventures of the legend that is Conan! This volume, at over 625 pages, features digitally remastered artwork and features a bonus section of rarely seen artwork.

Conan the Barbarian: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol. 6

Preview: Conan the Barbarian: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol. 6

Posted on by

Conan the Barbarian: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol. 6

Author: Michael Fleisher and Larry Yakata
Artist: John Buscema
HC, 672 pages, FC, $125.00
On sale August 5, 2025

The greatest hero in sword-and-sorcery history!

This epic omnibus chronicles the ongoing adventures of the legend that is Conan! This volume, at over 625 pages, features digitally remastered artwork and features a bonus section of rarely seen artwork.

Conan the Barbarian: The Original Comics Omnibus Vol. 6

Publishers Respond to Diamond’s Motion to Move its Consignment Hearing to the middle of SDCC

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A group of 13 publishers have filed a response to Diamond‘s attempt to move the hearing regarding its consignment plan. While it was originally scheduled for July 21, Diamond wanted to move it to July 24 or 25. Image Comics weirdly supported the move, even though in their support Image brings up San Diego Comic-Con during that week. The new proposed dates would be smack dab in the middle of SDCC.

On June 25, 2025, Diamond Comic Distributors submitted a motion that would allow them to sell, liquidate, dispose of, inventory it currently still has. The 13 publishers have also filed an objection to Diamond’s motion.

The group of publishers have filed a response that they don’t disagree with the move but ask for it to happen some time after San Diego Comic-Con, so after July 27.

They also are asking for that hearing to be an initial, non-evidentiary hearing, instead of deciding if Diamond’s original motion is approved.

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13 Publishers Submit a Joint Motion Objecting Diamond’s Consignment Motion

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It’s a massive team-up of publishers who have filed a joint motion objecting to Diamond Comic Distributor‘s motion that would allow them to sell, liquidate, dispose of, inventory it currently still has. Many publishers have been vocal about the motion and many have responded to our inquiries with “no comment” because it’s an ongoing legal matter. So far, TwoMorrows Publishing, Magma Comix, and Graphitti Designs, Abstract Studio, NBM, William M. Gaines, Agent, Inc., and Humanoids have each filed objections to the motion.

Aspen Comics, Black Mask Studios, DSTLRY Media, Dynamic Forces, aka Dynamite Entertainment, Heavy Metal International, Magnetic Press, Massive Publishing, Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group aka Oni Press, Panini UK Ltd., Punk Bot Comic Books, aka Alien Books, The Penn State University aka Graphic Mundi, Titan Publishing Group, and Vault Storyworks, aka Vault Comics formerly known as Creative Mind Energy have formed like Voltron to form a new team called the “consignment group” entering the legal fight.

The 63 page document starts with what we’d expect stating the publishers own the merchandise, aka consigned goods, and not the property of Diamond Comic Distributors. It then dives into Diamond’s claim that the publishers needed to file a UCC-1 financing statement which would have protected them against this situation. The legal argument says that may not needed as this was a “true consignment” established by the various contracts signed and state law.

This filing is similar to Humanoids’ stating that contested matter needs to be handled by Rule 7001(2) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and requires an adversary proceeding and emphasizes again that the publishers own the goods, not Diamond. It also states that it was Diamond’s intention to sell the goods this way and that they should have paid the publishers as per the terms of their agreements.

Like Humanoids’ objection, there’s a focus on Bankruptcy Rule 7001(2) requires that says an adversary proceeding has to happen to determine the “validity, priority, or extent of [an] interest in property.” In short, it hasn’t been determined that the consignment product is property of Diamond and that needs to happen before they can sell anything.

Part of Diamond’s initial motion is that no publishers filed a UCC-1 financing statement which would have protected them. But, did they even need to file it? The publisher’s motion calls them “true consignments,” and don’t meet the definition of UCC Section 9.

(A) the merchant:
(i) deals in goods of that kind under a name other than the name of the
person making the delivery;
(ii) is not an auctioneer; and
(iii) is not generally known by its creditors to be substantially engaged
in selling the goods of others.
(B) with respect to each delivery, the aggregate value of the goods is $1,000 or
more at the time of delivery;
(C) the goods are not consumer goods immediately before delivery; and
(D) the transaction does not create a security interest that secures an obligation.

Back to that non-payment. Goods were shipped after Diamond’s January 14 Chapter 11 filing, and the publishers should be paid for them and administrative expense claims such as attorney fees and late penalties.

The rest of the filing includes purchase order agreements, distribution agreements, details of those agreements like discount percentages, and more.

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The Committee of Unsecured Creditors also Partially Objects to the Diamond and Titan Publishing Issue

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A few hours ago we reported that Diamond was objecting to Titan Publishing‘s motion to have the distributor make a decision regarding their distribution agreement. Now the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors has chimed in objecting to part of the motion.

Titan Publishing has filed a motion for Diamond to assume or reject its distribution agreement with the publisher. You can read about that here.

The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors has chimed in and objects to the alternative relief that would grant Titan an allowed expense claim that is speculative or otherwise based on an actual benefit to the Debtor’s estates.

Basically, they don’t think the amount Titan wants is based on anything so objects.

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Diamond objects to the Motion to Compel them to Assume or Reject their Distribution Agreement with Titan Publishing

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Diamond Comic Distributors

While the sale of Diamond to Universal Distribution and Ad Populum was closed today, there’s still a lot to go before all of the legal wranglings are over and we can fully end the Chapter 11 saga of Diamond. The latest news is that Diamond has objected to Titan Publishing‘s motion for Diamond to assume or reject its distribution agreement with the publisher.

Diamond’s motion states they have twenty days after the closing on the sale to “designate additional executory contracts for assumption.” The object is that Sparkle Pop should be given that time to evaluate if it wants to assume the agreement.

After the 20 days, Sparkle Pop will reject certain contracts not assumed by the purchase and Diamond anticipates that “they will reject Titan’s Distribution Agreement if it is not designated.”

Short version, Diamond thinks that Titan’s motion is too early and that there’s still 20 days for Diamond’s new owners Sparkle Pop to decide what agreements they want to continue.

But, there’s more…

Titan wants the decision to be made so it can know what to do with its goods that Diamond currently has. Diamond’s motion states that if Spark Pop changes its mind about Titan’s contract it’s a “rejection” of it, not a “termination.” A “termination” allows Titan to get their goods back, a “rejection” doesn’t. By keeping the goods, Diamond would be able to sell them and then pay Titan “consistent with the Bankruptcy Code and the Distribution Agreement.”

Further, Diamond in its motion highlights the court can’t change its agreement with Titan, standing by its “rejection” vs. “termination” hair splitting. That if the court decides that Diamond needs to make a decision before the 20 days is up, it’d need to be a “rejection” which means Diamond can keep the goods to sell.

Diamond also adds that Titan’s request of an administrative expense is early as well. Diamond and Titan don’t know the amount for orders that “may or may not be filled accurately and properly.”

You can read all of Diamond’s motion below:

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Motion to Extend Objection Deadline over Titan Publishing’s Distribution Agreement with Diamond Filed

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Titan Comics

We said when the court approved the bids by Sparkle Pop and Universal Distribution to purchase Diamond and its companies that there was a long way to go. Today, a motion has been filed to extend the objection deadline and adjourn hearing on Titan Publishing‘s motion to “assume or reject” the distribution agreement between Diamond and Titan.

In April, Titan filed an emergency motion to “compel debtors (aka Diamond) to assume or reject (its) distribution agreement with Titan Publishing Group, Ltd. by April 25.”

But, that has still not been settled and a new motion has been filed to extend the deadline to May 16. It also has asked for a hearing to be held on May 21. The third “ordered” is that any “rejection of Titan’s contract authorized pursuant to a later order of the Court shall not have an effective date earlier than the earliest of: (i) the date of the closing on the Sale, (ii) the date of a hearing on the Motion, or (iii) the filing date of any other motion seeking to reject Titan’s contract.”

Still, a long way to go before Diamond’s sale is all wrapped up.

Read the documents below.

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